Almost universally, Americans say they support and value small businesses in their communities. How could you not? They provide products and services you can’t get elsewhere, customer service is generally more personal, and they contribute enormously to the fabric of our neighborhoods and cities. There are many organizations, national and local, that have done a great job organizing and getting the word out about the outsized contributions that small businesses make to our communities. One of those is the Small Business Saturday Coalition which we have joined to help spread the word about Small Business Saturday. What will you be doing on November 24, 2012, the Saturday after Thanksgiving? Participating in Small Business Saturday of course! Heading into its third year, Small Business Saturday, which falls between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, is a day dedicated to local, independently-owned small businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods across the country. Last year, millions of Americans, shopped at independently-owned small businesses on Small Business Saturday. This year, we invite you to help make the day even bigger for small business. Here are ways your business can get involved and help support Small Business Saturday: · Shop Small on November 24, 2012: By shopping small, you are showing your support for small businesses and creating goodwill within the communities where you work and live. Make a day of it by shopping with friends and dining out at your favorite small restaurants. · If you are an independent business owner, make the day your own: Small businesses are known for having outstanding customer service and offering unique products. Think about having special promotions and join forces with neighboring small businesses to create a block party or holiday event. Don’t forget to leverage Small Business Saturday marketing tools on www.facebook.com/shopsmall. · Spread the word: Sign up for email updates at www.shopsmall.com and make sure to ‘Like’ the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/shopsmall). Tell your family, friends and loyal customers about Small Business Saturday on your social networks. We’re excited to be part of the Small Business Saturday Coalition. We encourage all of you to shop small on November 24, 2012 and help spread the word. Let’s make Small Business Saturday, the biggest shopping day of them all - we’ll see you on Main Street!

After an appeal to the community for just the right tree, the Greensboro Better Hometown program announces that the city’s official Christmas Tree will be donated by Charlie Marshall of Union Point.

“Mr. Marshall graciously responded to our call for a tree,” explains Kendrick Harris Greensboro Better Hometown. “Mr. Marshall’s cypress will make a wonderful Christmas tree for all of Greene County to enjoy this holiday season”.

In 1995, Mr. Marshall planted the cypress for his wife Shirley or “Sweet Mama” as her Grand and Great Grand Children knew her. “Last year my wife Shirley passed away and I knew she would want nothing more than her beautiful tree to be displayed as the Christmas Tree for the community” states Mr. Marshall.

City workers will deliver the tree to the Court House lawn the week after Thanksgiving where it will be decorated in time for the downtown tree lighting. The tree lighting celebration will take place on the Courthouse lawn from 6-8 pm on Friday, November 30.

There will be an old-fashioned hayride through town, and your favorite holiday tunes sung ‘round the tree! Greensboro’s Tree Lighting event is a family favorite for the Lake Oconee area with an evening of music, food, holiday fun, and of course Santa!

The Greensboro Fire Department reports that they have received a special request from the North Pole for a fire truck escort the evening of the tree lighting. City officials can only imagine that the escort must be for Santa himself! “We figure with the lack of snow in Greensboro that Santa’s sleigh just wouldn’t be able to make the trip into town,” comments an anonymous city employee. Children, be sure to be in historic downtown Greensboro when Santa makes his entrance at 6 pm.

“Last year my wife Shirley passed away and I knew she would want nothing more than her beautiful tree to be displayed as the Christmas Tree for the community” states Mr. Marshall.

(Greensboro, Ga. – November 19, 2012) Greensboro’s Christmas season will include a wonderful afternoon tea experience at the Potted Geranium Tea Parlor in historic downtown Greensboro on Friday, November 30. A visit to the Potted Geranium for Christmas Tea is just the thing to get your holiday season off to a beautiful start! With seatings from 3 pm until 5 pm, Christmas Tea is the perfect opportunity to share the warmth of the season with friends and family. Christmas Tea will feature the very first taste of the tea room’s new holiday menu. The tiered tea tray will be filled with miniature pastries, finger sandwiches, and the Potted Geranium’s famous currant scones with clotted cream and preserves. You will also enjoy your choice of hot tea and the tea house’s signature Cranberry Champagne cocktail. The Potted Geranium Tea Parlor occupies a historic Victorian home on Greene Street in downtown Greensboro. Holiday decorations, soft music, and beautiful bone china set a festive, yet relaxing atmosphere for you to enjoy. After afternoon tea, continue your visit to downtown Greensboro with the Festival Walk Grand Opening, Downtown Greensboro Tree Lighting celebration and Christmas shopping later that evening. A complete listing of holiday events in Greensboro is available online at www.greensboroholiday.com. Reservations for tea are required and seating is limited, so please reserve your place early. Christmas Tea service is offered for the all-inclusive price of $42.50. Contact the Potted Geranium at (706) 453-4979 for reservations or additional information. The Potted Geranium for The Potted Geranium is rated as Georgia’s #1 tea room and was recently featured in Southern Living Magazine.

(Greensboro, Ga. – November 12, 2012) Downtown Greensboro kicked off its holiday season with the downtown merchant’s Holiday Open House, Saturday, November 10. Greensboro’s friendly merchants are ready to help you get all of your holiday shopping done this season – without the hectic traffic and crowds of your typical shopping mall. Shoppers can take advantage of extended holiday shopping hours on Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the season.

From now until December 21, downtown shoppers can register for a chance to win one of several Greensboro Bucks provided by the Greensboro Business Association. Shoppers are registered for the drawing each time they make a qualifying purchase at a participating downtown business. The winners will be selected throughout the season, starting with the Tree Lighting on November 30.

Everyone is invited to the annual Downtown Tree Lighting on November 30. The tree lighting celebration will take place in Downtown Greensboro on the Courthouse Lawn from 6-8 pm following the Festival Walk Grand Opening at 5pm. This is an evening of music, food, and holiday fun. It is rumored that Santa will be in town for pictures. Children, be sure to bring your wish list to historic Downtown Greensboro to give Santa in person.

There will be an old fashioned hay ride through town and your favorite holiday tunes sung ‘round the tree! Local organizations and non-profits are encouraged to participate in the event. Your organization is invited to take this opportunity to fundraise with goodies such as hot chocolate, baked goods, hot apple cider, candied apples, and other holiday favorites. Choirs and choral groups are invited to carol the historic downtown throughout the evening. To register an organization, choir, or choral group, please contact the Better Hometown office at (706) 453-7674.

Keep an eye on your local news or check out the new Greensboro Holiday website at www.GreensboroHoliday.com for additional details as Greensboro’s Holiday Plans progress and don’t forget to Shop Greensboro First this holiday season!

Downtown Shops Welcome Shoppers with Sales and Specials this Saturday (Greensboro, Ga. – November 5, 2012) Downtown Greensboro prepares to kick off the holiday season with the merchant’s Holiday Open House from 10 am- 6 pm on this Saturday, November 10. Greensboro’s friendly merchants are ready to help you get all of your holiday shopping done this season – without the hectic traffic and crowds of your typical shopping mall. Shopper will find free food tastings, live music, and new holiday inventory at the shops and boutiques of downtown. Sip a warm cup of wassail, watch one of Greensboro’s talented local artists at work, and experience the holidays in Lake Oconee’s hometown.

The shops of downtown Greensboro kick off the Christmas season this Saturday with its annual Holiday Open House from 10 am – 6 pm.

In cooperation with Greensboro Better Hometown and local merchants, the Greensboro Council Knights of Columbus is presenting a unique opportunity to honor a loved one and support your community. For a sponsorship of $5, you can “light a light” on this year’s “Tree of Love” Christmas Tree and remember a loved one while supporting several Greensboro charities. Your sponsorship of $5.00 (or more) will help support the Greene County Special Olympics, the Greene County Christmas Stocking Fund, and the Greene County Food Pantry. Plus your name or the name of a loved one will be listed on the "Tree of Love" sign placed next to the Greensboro Christmas tree when it is lit on Nov. 30. The Tree of Love list of names will also be posted on the Greensboro Better Hometown website as well as the Knights of Columbus, Greensboro Council, website. “The needs of those less fortunate in our community are always great, but the tree that we light each December is a special reminder to be charitable to each other, and especially to those in need,” said Knights of Columbus member Bill Richards. To “light a light” on the Tree of Love Christmas Tree, visit a Greensboro Merchant or contact Bill Richards at bill.richards@gcsu.edu or (706) 485-9043.